Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-03
The sleep or Children.
fSt Louis Globe- Democrat

A child should be in bed as the fowls
are, at sundown at least. And be should
be allowed TO rise in the morning as soon
as he wakes. 1t is not only torture but
an unhealthy mischief to compel chill
dren to lie in bed awake two hours to
prevent disturbing older people. The
morning sun is most essential to plant
life. A conservatory should always, II
possible, be on the east side of a house.
1t is equally true that the morning sun
is most valuable for animal vigor. and
that includes human beings. We, all of
us, are breaking both ends of the law.
Our sleep should be taken earlier. and
we shouldnever fail of getting the morn
ing sun.
abominate night parties for children.
believe every physician does. 1t not
so much the exposure and the eating in
the night, and the bad associations
formed (of high-toned sort, possibly,
but the breaking into the sleep habit.
Equally bad is it for children to study in
the evening. II gorges their brains with
blood, and if they sleep they dream. l
had little patient of twelve years, who
was wasted and nervous, and whose
dreams were filed with his problems 1t
was a marvel and pride to his parents
that the youngster worked out hard
problems in his sleep, such as he failed
to master when awake. But he came
near his final problem. locked up his
books at o'clock He must not touch
one after his supper. He must play and
romp, and then 90 10 bed. he is now
robust. You cannot emphasize too
strongly the mischief Of children's night
study.
Whatevera stolid lot OF animal natures
can do our American children are sensi-
tive and cannot do-that is, sleep safely
two IN a bed. No matter in what else
you economic there is a criminal folly
in economizing beds. Every person
needs his own bed more than he needs
his own chair or his own plate at table.
And the best bed in the world is a good
bed of fresh straw covered with plenty
of quilts. No child should be allowed
to sleep on feathers or animal refuse of
any sort. But to sleep two in bed is
n vital damage One is sure to absorb
the electric energy of the other. What we
must look for isiO accumulate constitution
for the child and establish q stout con-
servative tendency. Our American life
will be sure to make heavy drafts on
him. II he han no capital he can pay no
interest. This habit of sleeping alone
should be retained through life under all
circumstances. More mischief, as well
as immortality, comes from the opposite
course than from any other common
habit.
a good deal Of nonsense is sometimes
published about sending children to bed
with full stomachs. This is we'll enough
so long as a babe is an animal, and has
not awakened to much use of the brain /;
but as soon as q child has come to an
age of active thought he should
have a chance for light exercise
and sport after his meals; never, how
ever, allowing him TO go to bed excited.
Above all things 10 be deprecated is the
stormy season SC frequently indulged in
JUS; at retiring. The child prefers to sit
up, and invariably retires in storm of
passion, added to by the storm of nurse
or parent. He should be calmly and
firmly restrained from all such out
breaks. There is a great difference in
children about retiring some very active
brains grow sleepy and desire to retire
early others equally active grow wake
full and excited.